Recently released recycling reports highlight producers’ role

Two reports released in March point to producer responsibility as a path forward for residential recycling in the Pacific Northwest.

As the market for collected residential recyclables continues to struggle in the wake of China’s departure as the major buyer for paper and plastics, several state and regional studies are underway to figure out a sustainable solution. Two of these—one focused on Washington and the other funded by Oregon Metro—dig into the promising policy that is known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

In other countries, EPR policies are adopted to create recycling systems that are more sustainable than local government-run programs. EPR systems are funded by the producers of the packaging and paper products that comprise the bulk of our curbside recyclable materials. EPR is a mandated policy that shifts the responsibility for end-of-life management of products and packaging upstream to producers – rather than the public sector. Put simply, producers create packaging so they should be financially responsible for the tsunami of waste it generates. We all learned this principle in kindergarten – if you make a mess, it’s your responsibility to clean it up. That’s EPR.

Put simply, producers create packaging so they should be financially responsible for the tsunami of waste it generates.

The first report, Extended Producer Responsibility Policy Framework and Implementation Model: Residential Recycling of Packaging and Paper Products in Washington State, was released by the Responsible Recycling Task Force (RRTF). The RRTF includes representatives from the King County Solid Waste Division, Seattle Public Utilities, cities in King County, solid waste management companies, and other stakeholders, and formed to respond to changes in international recycling markets and to develop a coordinated approach to improving recycling in the region. This report fulfills an action item of the RRTF to develop a "comprehensive, statewide stewardship policy approach that helps achieve a funded, robust, and harmonized curbside recycling system throughout Washington State."

The second report, Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and Paper Products: Policies, Practices, and Performance, which was funded by Metro regional government in Oregon, outlines key elements of EPR for packaging and paper products and how they contribute to program success. The report was produced by the Product Stewardship Institute and is perhaps the first to provide such in-depth research about the success of packaging EPR programs and how they continue to improve. It shows that EPR not only provides sustainable financing for recycling by placing financial responsibility for the system on producers, it also can reduce the burden of day-to-day recycling management away from the public sector, allowing limited public resources to be redirected toward other priorities.

For a quick primer on EPR that addresses FAQs, check out this fact sheet.